Pages

Sunday, February 5, 2012

7 Things that I Loved about The Search For Meaning - Festival of the Book

The Search for Meaning Book Festival
I've just returned from Seattle University where I attended and participated in an amazing event. I've been to literally dozens and dozens of literary festivals both in the United States and in Ireland, this has to be one of the best run and with an enormously positive vibe. I was surprised to hear that 2,500 people came out to hear a poet, a living poet, Mary Oliver read her work.

Here are a few things I was most struck by during the course of the day.

1. 60+ people came to my session; standing room only! On a sunny, warm, Seattle afternoon, a crowd came out to write poetry and listen to my ideas on the need for solitude -- and society.

2. The juxtaposition of literature and spirituality is simply delicious.

3. Being spontaneous --- after lots of planning --- works well. After attending the lovely session with Francis McCue and then Mary Oliver's reading, I decided to toss out what I originally planned and instead focus on writing and braiding in new ideas I'm developing about poetry. Besides, I didn't bring enough handouts!

4. The Search for Meaning Book Festival is Seattle's best kept literary secret. I plan to be part of this amazing weekend next year too --- either as a presenter or participant -- or both.

5. How amazing it was to run into successful former studentsElizabeth B. and Patsy M. These two super intelligent and large hearted women were my students at Highline Community College several years ago and they are now on their way to completing their BA's --- Elizabeth is attending S.U. and loving the experience.

6. Poets and non-poets alike crave community. One participant said to me, "I'm so glad I took a day for myself to do this." Another participant wanted our session turned into a three hour event. This festival clearly answered a real desire for people to come together over books and ideas.

7. Never underestimate the power of a few dedicated people to create something amazing. This was the third year of this event and each year it has doubled in size. This is in no small part due to the dedication of dozens of volunteers and a handful of staff people. Most of all, it seems the culture of Seattle University is a magical one.

Hi Susan, it was great getting to meet you. I'm so glad I was able to squeeze in as one of the standing-room-only "floor-sitters." I wrote one poem and got a good start with the second list you had us work on. And it was such a privilege to hear Mary Oliver read, wasn't it? I'm thankful to SU--great event...amazing speakers & workshops...entirely free to the community!

Hi Maria, Thanks so much for coming by and introducing yourself. So glad that the session was useful to you. May our paths cross again soon -- in Tacoma or Seattle. I'm still thinking about the two poets who read their pieces. Amazing what the mind can do when given time.

Susan Rich is the author
of four collections of poetry, most recently, Cloud Pharmacy and The Alchemist’s Kitchen, which was a Finalist for the Foreword
Prize and the Washington State Book Award. Her other books include Cures Include Travel (2006)
and The Cartographer’s Tongue /
Poems of the World (2000) which won the PEN USA Award for Poetry and
the Peace Corps Writers Book Award. She is the recipient of awards from
Artist’s Trust, 4Culture, The Times Literary Supplement of London, Seattle
Mayors Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the Fulbright Foundation. Susan's poems have been published in many journals including: Antioch Review, Gettysburg Review, Harvard Review, and The Southern Review.

Currently, she is Professor of creative writing and film studies at Highline
Community College. Susan also works as the poetry editor for The Human journal based in
Istanbul, Turkey and along with Kelli Russell Agodon is founder of Poets on the Coast: A Writing Retreat for
Women.Along with Brian Turner and
Jared Hawkley, she is editor of the anthology, The Strangest of Theatres: Poets Writing Across Borders published
by McSweeney’s and the Poetry Foundation (2013). Susan lives in Seattle,
WA and writes in the House of Sky, a few blocks from the Puget Sound.